sigmamediumHunting

Unusual Parent Process For Cmd.EXE

Detects suspicious parent process for cmd.exe

MITRE ATT&CK

execution

Detection Query

selection:
  Image|endswith: \cmd.exe
  ParentImage|endswith:
    - \csrss.exe
    - \ctfmon.exe
    - \dllhost.exe
    - \epad.exe
    - \FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe
    - \GoogleUpdate.exe
    - \jucheck.exe
    - \jusched.exe
    - \LogonUI.exe
    - \lsass.exe
    - \regsvr32.exe
    - \SearchIndexer.exe
    - \SearchProtocolHost.exe
    - \SIHClient.exe
    - \sihost.exe
    - \slui.exe
    - \spoolsv.exe
    - \sppsvc.exe
    - \taskhostw.exe
    - \unsecapp.exe
    - \WerFault.exe
    - \wermgr.exe
    - \wlanext.exe
    - \WUDFHost.exe
condition: selection

Author

Tim Rauch, Elastic (idea)

Created

2022-09-21

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/security/current/unusual-parent-process-for-cmd.exe.html

Tags

attack.executionattack.t1059

Raw Content

title: Unusual Parent Process For Cmd.EXE
id: 4b991083-3d0e-44ce-8fc4-b254025d8d4b
status: test
description: Detects suspicious parent process for cmd.exe
references:
    - https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/security/current/unusual-parent-process-for-cmd.exe.html
author: Tim Rauch, Elastic (idea)
date: 2022-09-21
modified: 2023-12-05
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\cmd.exe'
        ParentImage|endswith:
            - '\csrss.exe'
            - '\ctfmon.exe'
            - '\dllhost.exe'
            - '\epad.exe'
            - '\FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe'
            - '\GoogleUpdate.exe'
            - '\jucheck.exe'
            - '\jusched.exe'
            - '\LogonUI.exe'
            - '\lsass.exe'
            - '\regsvr32.exe'
            - '\SearchIndexer.exe'
            - '\SearchProtocolHost.exe'
            - '\SIHClient.exe'
            - '\sihost.exe'
            - '\slui.exe'
            - '\spoolsv.exe'
            - '\sppsvc.exe'
            - '\taskhostw.exe'
            - '\unsecapp.exe'
            - '\WerFault.exe'
            - '\wermgr.exe'
            - '\wlanext.exe'
            - '\WUDFHost.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium